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Sat Jul 13, 2013 5:46 pm

This is a single tube with no mech. advance. Which vac. Port on the H30/31 carb. Should be used? I have read on Samba that this distributor has been installed on a 1600 DP with success. Attaching a vac gauge to the left side port shows 2 or 3". The rear port shows about 20". I connected the gauge directly to the ports. Which port is the correct one?

Sat Jul 13, 2013 8:01 pm

It plugs into the port on the left side of the carb.

the dist is an SVDA clone, so yes it has mechanical advance plus vacuum.

this guy did a ton of research, saying the 30/31 doesn't pull enough vacuum to run that distributor, and in my trials he is correct.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=185095

the 009 with the 30/31 is a very good combo, IMO

Sat Jul 13, 2013 9:08 pm

Thanks for your reply. So the 30/31 carb will not provide proper vacuum for a SDVA? Only a centrifugal advance will work? I read in Rob and Dave's commentary that this carb and the 34-3 do well with a SDVA. So what is correct?

Sat Jul 13, 2013 10:10 pm

volwing wrote: This is a single tube with no mech. advance.

Form your description, it sounds as if you have a "vacuum only" distributor, which is not an SVDA. An SVDA (single vacuum dual advance) has both vacuum and centrifugal advance.

If it is a vacuum only type, it should work with the carburetor that you have.
If it is a an SVDA (which it probably is) it will not work with your carb.

If you already have a working "vacuum only" distributor, you can install a pertronix points replacement unit without having to buy an entire distributor.

Sun Jul 14, 2013 2:07 am

Luft kühl wrote: volwing wrote: This is a single tube with no mech. advance.

Form your description, it sounds as if you have a "vacuum only" distributor, which is not an SVDA. An SVDA (single vacuum dual advance) has both vacuum and centrifugal advance.
.

No one makes new vac-only distributors. That pertronix unit IS an SVDA.

Mon Apr 20, 2015 1:33 pm

I have a vacuum only distributor on my Beetle and I just purchased an SVDA. If I connect the vacuum hose on the left of the carb to the distributor, do I need to cap the other one? I haven't seen much in the way of instructions for conversion...

Mon Apr 20, 2015 2:14 pm

What carburetor are you running? The vacuum signature is entirely different from vacuum-only to SVDA. The link posted above talks about that in detail.

-Andy

Mon Apr 20, 2015 2:37 pm

nbitecofer wrote: I have a vacuum only distributor on my Beetle and I just purchased an SVDA. If I connect the vacuum hose on the left of the carb to the distributor, do I need to cap the other one? I haven't seen much in the way of instructions for conversion...
Best to be specific. Which make/model carb and which make/model distributor are you running. Post the details please.

The earlier Soles 30Pict-1 and H30/31 carbs only produced around 3 in-Hg at max vacuum. The SVSA/SVA distributors that came matched to these carbs would reach max advance with this much vacuum.
Later SVDA/DVDA distributors needed around 12 in-Hg to reach max advance. These were matched up with different carbs like the 34Pict-3 which produced the needed vacuum from the same left side port on the carb.

For best results, you want to use a matching pair of carb+distributor. And before someone asks, the 009 was NOT match paired with any vehicle carb from the VW factory as it was never designed to be used on vehicle engines. The above combo of H30/31+009 usually works okay but they are not a matching pair.

Mon Apr 20, 2015 5:01 pm

No one makes a new vacuum only distributor but they are being restored. :wink:

For a 30 PICT series carburetor the stock original distributors are the 113 905 205 K, M or T. The 30/31 Brosol is a clone of the later 30 PICT carburetor so the same distributors will be your match up.

Mon Apr 20, 2015 6:41 pm

You have to forgive my ignorance.I've only had this thing for a few months and I don't know for sure what carburetor is on it. It's a '74 SuperBeetle. It has the 1600 dual port. I read somewhere that the stock carb was a 34pict3 but I have no idea if that is correct. It has sat in a barn for 20+ years and I believe everything is stock. The distributor I bought was the PerTronix Flame-Thrower D186504. I've seen them on a few different parts sites (Aircooled.net, mamotorworks.com & summit Racing) and all sites listed it as compatible.

I followed the installation instructions to the letter and it sputters a little but won't fire up. Now that I don't know if it's compatible, I'm wondering if I made a mistake somewhere during installation, or if my mistake was buying the thing in the first place.

Mon Apr 20, 2015 6:58 pm

The name of the carb is on its left side. And on the base flange of the left side is the modification state number.

As a 34PICT-3, it's a DVDA or SVDA carb. Also, any running mismatches won't cause it not to start like you are describing.

Mon Apr 20, 2015 7:01 pm

Did you reset the timing after installing the new distributor??

Tue Apr 21, 2015 4:18 am

sb001 wrote: Did you reset the timing after installing the new distributor??

No, don't you have to get it running to adjust the timing? My light won't work unless the car will start...

Tue Apr 21, 2015 6:19 am

nbitecofer wrote: No, don't you have to get it running to adjust the timing? My light won't work unless the car will start...
Follow the steps here on Rob & Dave's site for static timing. Time it to 7.5BTDC. Anywhere between TDC and 7.5 BTDC should be good enough to get your engine started.
http://www.vw-resource.com/tune_up.html#static
If you have trouble with the written instruction, search YouTube for "static timing beetle". There are a few good examples.

To be able to static time your distributor you need to know what the timing marks on your crank pulley represent. If you have a degree pulley with index markings no problem. If you have a stock pulley will notches, it is not so straight forward. The dimple on the rear lip (rear is rear of the car) of the crank pulley is always TDC (0-deg, not all pulleys have a simple). Marks ccw from TDC are AFTER TDC (ATDC). Marks on the pulley cw from TDC are BEFORE TDC (BTDC) marks. If your pulley only has two notches close together, they are probably 7.5 and 10BTDC.

Tue Apr 21, 2015 9:14 am

glutamodo wrote: The name of the carb is on its left side. And on the base flange of the left side is the modification state number.

As a 34PICT-3, it's a DVDA or SVDA carb. Also, any running mismatches won't cause it not to start like you are describing.

Thank you! It is the 34PICT3.

Tue Apr 21, 2015 9:16 am

ashman40 wrote: nbitecofer wrote: No, don't you have to get it running to adjust the timing? My light won't work unless the car will start...
Follow the steps here on Rob & Dave's site for static timing. Time it to 7.5BTDC. Anywhere between TDC and 7.5 BTDC should be good enough to get your engine started.
http://www.vw-resource.com/tune_up.html#static
If you have trouble with the written instruction, search YouTube for "static timing beetle". There are a few good examples.

Thank you! I've got it running now! All that's left is to hook up my timing light and dial it in. I really appreciate you guys helping me!!